The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye to the Vatican, the Embassy of Ukraine to the Vatican and Rome Yunus Emre Institute joined forces to organize the "Bread and Peace: Black Sea Grain Initiative and Mediation Efforts for Diplomatic Solution” Panel.

The panel hosted by Rome Yunus Emre Institute on May 5, 2023 was attended by Vatican Secretary for State Relations Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Turkish Ambassador to the Vatican Ufuk Ulutaş, Ukrainian Ambassador to the Vatican Andrii Yurash, Rome Yunus Emre Institute Coordinator Zafer Kıyıcı and diplomatic representatives of approximately 40 countries.

Turkish Ambassador to the Vatican Ufuk Ulutaş underlined that the panel "Bread and Peace: The Black Sea Grain Initiative and Mediation Efforts for Diplomatic Solution" panel coincided with an important time of negotiations on the extension of the Black Sea Grain Corridor and underscored: "We need to talk about hope for peace as well as war."

Noting that Ukraine is a major exporter of grain worldwide and that the war has adversely affected these exports, Vatican Secretary for State Relations Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, said: "I found the title of the panel very meaningful. It is very important to reflect the relationship between the notions of 'Bread and Peace'. It is important in terms of recognizing that there is no peace without bread."

"The Black Sea Grain Initiative Agreement was signed thanks to the diplomacy carried out by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the will of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This initiative should not only be appreciated but also protected."

Ukrainian Ambassador to the Vatican Andrii Yurash stated that the war that started last year with Russia's aggression caused Ukraine to stop exporting grain when it was previously a major grain exporter.

The event continued with Dr. Can Kasapoğlu from the Center for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies discussing the political and military aspects of the Russo-Ukrainian War.

After the panel, the guests were treated to Turkish music accompanied by rich Turkish cuisine.